plate no. 2264

Soldiers Beside a Fireplace

oilBaroquegenre paintingfiguresinteriorfireplacetablewindowsoldiers

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students understand chiaroscuro and how to create depth through value changes. It also provides practice in rendering figures in complex poses and clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and key objects.
step 02
Establish the dark background and general light source direction.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figures with mid-tone values.
step 04
Begin to build up the highlights and shadows on the figures, paying attention to the folds in the clothing.
step 05
Refine the details of the faces and hands.
step 06
Add details to the background, such as the fireplace, window, and table.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Achieve the warm, muted tones by mixing burnt umber and raw sienna with small amounts of black and white. Use yellow ochre and cadmium red for the clothing, muted with umber. Create shadows with ultramarine blue and burnt umber.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·scumbling
·underpainting
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Failing to establish a strong value structure early on.
→Overworking the details before establishing the overall form.
→Using colors that are too bright or saturated.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, ivory black, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue, titanium white)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife